353 of 365: Dedicated to, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III himself, Jay Baruchel.
I know he may never see this, but I’m gonna write it anyway. Ever since the first time I watched HTTYD I was captivated by Hiccup’s voice, and yeah maybe that sounds weird but it’s true. I remember pausing the movie 25 seconds into the “This is Berk” monologue and being like- “Wow, um.. I love his voice?” And looked up the voice actor because by golly, I needed to know right then and there. There has just been something I find so comforting about Hiccup’s nasally voice and the way he talks, I genuinely enjoy listening to his unique tone. Jay Baruchel has played Hiccup from the start, ever since the beginning, and like he has said many times, at this point he doesn’t know where he stops and Hiccup begins. This character has become such a profound part of him as it has me, and many others who feel a deep connection to Hiccup.
Hiccup is the first fictional character I’ve ever resonated with so deeply. When I was watching him, scrawny, awkward, trying his best and failing miserably. Stuck in the middle and coping through self deprecating humor, it was something about that “I just want to be one of you guys.” line and the longing in his voice struck me so hard. Like a bucket of ice water to the face I realized I was watching myself. A character I, outside of being a total talking fish-bone, physically look nothing like and yet feel so affixed to, which has never happened with me towards a fictional character. Hiccup wouldn’t be the same had he been played by anybody else. Jay captures the very essence of Hiccup, because he is Hiccup and that’s just the way it is.
I’m getting a little carried away here, but the point is: Hiccup is my hero. I was stuck in a place where I felt lonely and small and in the way of everybody, and everything. As Hiccup looked into the eyes of Toothless and saw himself, so did I in the eyes of Hiccup. Seeing how Hiccup overcame and redefined the definition of a hiccup to the point where feeling like such a thing stopped feeling so bad. I have aged up along side my favorite character and what an honor it has been. Just as Hiccup comes to a new chapter of his life and learns to grow up, so do I. Letting go has never been easy for me, but if Hiccup could do it, then I can too. Thank you Jay Baruchel for breathing life into my hero, and making him the very character he is today.
Thank you Jay, for being our Hiccup. ❤️
